When I first went to urgent care, I thought I had a hernia. I was 37, tired, and honestly just run down from what I thought was shingles and the flu. The doctors thought it might be something ovarian or hernia-related, and I believed them because cancer never even crossed my mind.
A few weeks later, another doctor said the same thing. But something didn’t sit right with me. My body was trying to tell me something, and deep down, I knew it. So, I kept following up, asking more questions, trusting that gut feeling we sometimes try to ignore.
By early May, I got the real answer: diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). I was soft diagnosed at my local emergency department after a CT scan. What I thought was a hernia was actually a cancerous lymph node. I had just gotten on Medicaid — almost by accident — and that simple step gave me access to the care that caught it in time.
Everything changed in that moment. But so did my perspective. I learned that asking for help doesn’t make you weak; it’s brave. And trusting your body, even when people tell you it’s “probably nothing,” can save your life.
Now, I’m in recovery, rebuilding my strength, and learning to see each day differently. I’ve found peace in small things — gardening, being outside, breathing fresh air. I still get scared sometimes, but I’m also incredibly grateful for the doctors who caught it, for the support I had, and for a healthcare program that gave me a chance to fight.
If my story helps even one person keep pushing for answers, then it’s worth sharing.
Jackie
diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL)
